This answer wil depend on what type of skin (ie: dry, combo, oily) you have and what type of coverage (ie: medium, full, etc) you are looking for. I think your best bet is to go to your nearest Sephora or MAC or Bobbi Brown and speak to someone who can make a recommendation based off of your skin in person.

With that said some of my favorite foundations:

Eve Pearl

MUFE HD

Graftobian

MAC

Laura Mercier

*I have dry skin and I need full coverage.

ETA: I am using a MUA for my wedding and she is using airbrush makeup for me.

I am an MUA and african american. MAC really isnt a good foundation, especially if you are prone to break outs. You are going to want something that is oil free and absorbs well into the skin instead of just sitting on top. Estee lauder invisible fluid is great. Make-up forever HD is great. I personally am using temptu airbrush make-up because it is water resistant and does not clog my pores.

@MrsGrayIndy: I too am a MUA and I second this. MAC doesn’t have the best foundations. It breaks me out, and I noticed with a few of them that they oxidize (change different colors) on me pretty quickly personally. I switched to all Tarte products when I started breaking out. I use the amazonian clay foundation (it’s full coverage). I have combo to oily skin and I stay nice and matte pretty much all day. It claims to remove all oil from the skins surface which I believe it because I stay pretty matte, and my makeup used to slide right off. Not anymore!! Also it’s formulated without parabens, mineral oil, synthetic fragrance, sodium lauryl sulfate, and a few other things that are bad for your skin. I also use their maracuja oil and the waterproof amazonian clay concealer. I think it’s the best I’ve ever used. You can pick up a sample at Ulta if you want to try it 🙂 here’s the link.

Also, NARS is pretty good, and so is the new UD Naked Skin. But I haven’t used much of both of those on myself to know. Only a few times each 🙂 Have heard some really good things about MUFE HD.

and good luck!! Oh and a quick tip on staying matte, I use banana powder. I swear it’s my holy grail. I picked it up from a local costume shop for $8 after seeing Kim K. use it, and I will never stop using it. It’s scary looking in the jar but it’s impossible to use the wrong way. I have so many people stop me and ask me how my face looks so flawless. It’s the powder!! I use it on all my clients and they LOVE it.

I love love love youngblood. i’ll never use another brand. i apply it at 6:30am, go to work till 5:30 head to the gym straight after work and my make-up hasnt moved. Looks just as it did when i first applied it. Its so light and natural looking too.

I would also reccomened getting a good skin routine, your make up will look so much better when you have a great base to start with.